EDITORIAL: Pet owners have an obligation to obey leash laws

Sunday

Jun 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM

People love their dogs. It’s not unusual for devoted pet owners to consider their animals members of the family. Their deaths are an occasion for tears and mourning, particularly when an animal meets an untimely and unfortunate end.It is a shame that a Northport family had to lose its pet when a Northport police officer shot and killed a pit bull. By most accounts, the animal had a friendly demeanor, and neighbors say the animal wasn’t acting aggressively when the officer shot it.We cannot pass judgment on whether the officer was justified in shooting the dog. Nor can we attest to whether the dog’s demeanor was friendly. But, because the shooting occurred on the owner’s property and neighbors weren’t complaining about a vicious dog, Northport officials should thoroughly investigate the incident. Officers should use deadly force as a last resort, regardless of whether they are using it against people or dogs.But it is also important to note that the dog had no business running free. Northport has a leash law, and residents are obliged to obey it. That means dogs should either be on a leash under someone’s control, or they should be confined in the owner’s yardThis is particularly true of pit bulls. Their owners protest that they are no different than any other breed and that they shouldn’t be singled out. But pit bulls account for more fatal dog attacks than any other breed, according to www.dogsbite.org.It is true that pit bulls differ greatly in their aggressiveness. Some are vicious, while some are very friendly. The problem is, how is anyone supposed to know which kind of pit bull he or she is facing, particularly a police officer called to a situation rife with unknowns?Many pit bull owners contend that their breed is no more or less likely to show aggression or to injure people. They like to say that the dog’s behavior is entirely dependent on how its owner raises and controls it.A dog’s handling does influence its behavior. Otherwise friendly animals can be made vicious with mistreatment. But dog breeding cannot be entirely discounted.Humans have long bred dogs for specific purposes. Border collies and Australian shepherds are bred to herd livestock, Labrador and golden retrievers are bred to fetch game birds, while pointers and setters are used to find and point game birds for hunters. Puppies display behavior distinct to breeds as early as 6 weeks old.Originally bred as “catch dogs” to track down, catch and hold semi-wild livestock on open ranges, breeds now identified as pit bulls were bred for strength, tenacity and aggressiveness. These attributes were later perverted for illegal dog fights. The relative merits of the breed can be argued long into the night. But pit bull owners should be aware that many people fear their animals, and their fear is not unreasonable or based on misinformation.It’s incumbent on these owners to see that their dogs don’t run loose.